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Killzone: Shadow Fall requires 7.5GB initial download before play

Through a feature Sony is now calling "PlayGo," you'll be able to select which part of the game you'd like to download first--single or multiplayer--and then play the game as it downloads. But, it won't be as immediate as many had imagined. For example, Shadow Fall will still require a 7.5GB initial download before it can be played.

One of the new features Sony promised when unveiling PlayStation 4 was the ability to play games as they download from the PlayStation Store. With games like Killzone: Shadow Fall clocking in at nearly 40GB in size, it wouldn't be practical to sit and wait for such a huge download to finish before playing. Through a feature Sony is now calling "PlayGo," you'll be able to select which part of the game you'd like to download first--single or multiplayer--and then play the game as it downloads.

In reality, PlayGo won't be as immediate as many had imagined. For example, Shadow Fall will still require a 7.5GB initial download before it can be played when purchased digitally.

Guerrilla Games confirmed the figure to Eurogamer, who saw the game at a recent event in Amsterdam. The initial 7.5GB will be enough to play the first level, while the second level continues downloading in the background.

Technical director Michiel van der Leeuw acknowledges this is far from ideal, but expects the process to improve over the generation as developers keep the feature in mind. "The initial chunk of 7.5GB is quite big," he said. "I think if we would have known exactly how everything would work... I think next time around we'll try to see if we can design something that doesn't jeopardize the game which will make it even friendlier."

"But I think all things considered, this being launch and we've got like 2 minutes 44 from disc to the first level and no installs, I think it's already a massive improvement over previous generations," he added.

Killzone: Shadow Fall remains on target for the PS4 launch. If you do plan on picking it up digitally, it's already available for pre-order on the PlayStation Store.